As a network known for ultimate fighting and plentiful babes, Spike TV is taking on a loftier pursuit drama but making sure to add such male-oriented ingredients as guns, hostages and mano a mano swagger.

March is the month for movie bad boys as they try to get moviegoers to cheer their troublemaking and not give them a spanking at the box office. Humorist Neil Zawacki, author of How to Be a Villain and The Villain's Guide to Better Living, says that people generally prefer to cheer for a righteous protagonist, but they can be seduced into rooting for evil under the right circumstances.

Like fellow New York filmmaker Martin Scorsese, Sidney Lumet would be forgiven for having a beef with Oscar. Four times he has gone home empty-handed from the Academy Awards: 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network and The Verdict failed to capture wins for best picture or best director. He also lost for screenplay for 1981's Prince of the City.

This week, the Sci Fi channel gives fans an early holiday gift in the form of its revamped Sci Fi Friday lineup. Plus, three classic films (All the President's Men, Network and Dog Day Afternoon) finally arrive on DVD and Elvis Costello goes live on his latest CD, My Flame.

Director Sidney Lumet, who has yet to win an Oscar, will get a special award Sunday night. He was nominated five times; the one that isn't on DVD, 1981's Prince of the City, contains what could be his best directing. Of the other four, I'm less fond of 1975's Dog Day Afternoon. Here are three favorites.